While recovering from wrist surgery a couple of years ago, my dear friend Marti came over to help me.  She not only brought us delicious meals but also looked around the house to see what else she could do to lend a hand.  ( I have the most thoughtful friends!)

Marti noticed that my houseplants needed some attention.  She rolled her sleeves up and took over.  I watched in amazement.  She taught me a great tip on how to make my houseplants thrive.

How to Water Houseplants

My plants are all in plastic containers that sit inside decorative pots.  She took each plant to my kitchen sink where she thoroughly watered them.

Once the water was completely drained out of the pot, she put it back in its decorative pot and then repeated the same process with the next plant.

Asparagus Fern Houseplant

The first plant that Marti tackled was my asparagus fern.  She even gave it a shower with the spray nozzle.

Water Your Plants Less Often

It seemed to be a lot of work as I just sat there and watched.  I used to just carry a watering can from room to room and water each plant.

Marti told me that by throughly watering the plants her way, they don’t need to be watered as often.  I have gone from watering my plants every week to every two weeks and they are thriving.

Don’t Let Your Plants Sit in Water

In the past I would inadvertently over water and the plant would sit in water at the base of the pot.  Now that I water them at the sink, they completely drain before putting them back in their container.

My plants have gone from looking okay to looking fabulous.   My asparagus fern is living proof.  In the past, it would never have lasted this many years.

Peace Lily Houseplant

The peace lily is an easy houseplant to grow.  Mine faces an east window.  Although the plant is larger, I still carry it to the kitchen sink and water it the same way.

Schefflera Houseplant

This schefflera houseplant gets indirect light in my foyer.  I prune it every few months when it grows beyond the corner where it sits.  I put the cuttings in a vase as shown in my post, Simple and Casual Centerpieces.

Philodendron Houseplants

I don’t think you can kill a Philodendron houseplant.  They are the easiest plant to grow.   The biggest mistake I see is that they get leggy when they are not pruned.

Philodendron are a low light plant.  This one sits in my kitchen next to my sunroom.

Green plants add life to a room.   My home would look bare without them.  Whether you have a green thumb or not, give this watering method a try.

Put the watering can down and give your houseplants a good soak at the kitchen sink.   Cut your watering back to once every two weeks.  See if it makes a difference.

Please note that this method works beautifully for the plants shown above.  This may not work for all houseplants.  Check watering instructions on your type of plant and use your own judgement.